Displaced Supracondylar Humerus Fractures in Children - Are They All Identical?

Introduction: This study aims to ascertain if there are any differences in supracondylar fractures between children under seven years of age and those above 7 years of age. Materials and Methods: All cases of displaced humerus supracondylar fractures that required surgical stabilization were identified and retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, mode of injury, associated neurovascular injuries and details of surgery performed were obtained from clinical records. The Gartland classification and the extent of comminution of fractures were also documented from review of radiographs. Results: One hundred and twelve children were included in this study, of whom 61 (54.46%) were younger than seven years of age while 51 (45.5%) were aged seven years or older. Children aged seven or older had a greater incidence of associated neurological deficit at presentation (p=0.046). Of the six patients with nerve injury in the older age group, one patient (16.7%) had a radial nerve injury, two patients (33.3%) had ulnar nerve injuries while another two patients (33.3%) had median nerve injuries. There was one patient (16.7%) with both median and ulnar nerve injuries. Comminuted fractures were also more common in the older children (p=0.004). No significant differences were demonstrated between the groups with regard to age, gender and mechanism of injury, laterality, incidence of open fracture, vascular injuries and operative time. Conclusion: Children aged seven years or older who sustain supracondylar humeral fractures tend to get more comminuted fractures. There is also a higher incidence of associated neurological injury. These cases must be carefully examined for at presentation and parents need to be appropriately counselled about them.

Effect of temperature on VFA's and biogas production in anaerobic solubilization of food waste.

The effectiveness of methane fermentation treatment used in food waste processing is currently limited by solubilization and acidogenesis. In efforts to improve the treatment process, this study examined the effects of temperature on solubilization and acidogenesis. The solubilization rate of food waste, which was based on suspended solid removal, was 47.5%, 62.2%, 70.0%, 72.7%, 56.1% and 45.9% at 15 degrees C, 25 degrees C, 35 degrees C, 45 degrees C, 55 degrees C and 65 degrees C, respectively. Solubilization rate was accelerated from the middle to late experimental periods under mesophilic (35 degrees C and 45 degrees C) conditions. In contrast, overall solubilization rate was significantly lower under thermophilic (55 degrees C and 65 degrees C) conditions than under mesophilic conditions, although solubilization occurred rapidly in the early experimental period. The production of biogas was high under mesophilic conditions of 35 degrees C and 45 degrees C, at 64.7 and 62.7mL/g-VS, respectively, while it was scarce under thermophilic conditions. Solubilization of food waste was accelerated under both mesophilic and thermophilic conditions; however, solubilization rate was observed to be particularly high under mesophilic conditions, and a shortening of the hydraulic retention time is expected under thermophilic conditions.

Automatic ballistocardiogram (BCG) beat detection using a template matching approach.

This paper suggests a beat detection method for ballistocardiogram (BCG) from an unconstrained cardiac signal monitoring devices. A fiducial peak point of BCG is an I-J-K complex which corresponds with ventricle contraction and Electrocardiogram (ECG) QRS complex. The goal of the method is extraction of J peak without ECG synchronization. The detection method is based on a "template matching" rule evaluated using a correlation function in a local moving-window procedure. The total beat detection algorithm operates in two stages, template definition stage and beat detection stage with defined template in previous stage. In the first stage, the BCG template is constructed by the expert with an empirical analysis of BCG signal and measurement device. In the second stage, the correlation function calculates an accuracy of template with BCG signal using a local moving-window. The data analysis has been performed on the subjects tested at Seoul National University Hospital Sleep Medicine Center and presents 95.16% of sensitivity and 94.76% of positive predictivity value for the J peak detection.

Preparation of N'-substituted anilino-N-methyl-N'nitrosoureas as candidate antitumor agents.

Various N'-substituted anilino-N-methyl-N'-nitrosoureas(2a-n) were easily prepared from the reaction of substituted phenylhydrazines (3-, 4-CH3, 3-, 4-OCH3, 3-, 4-F, 3-, 4-Cl, 4-Br, 2-, 3-, 4-NO2, 2, 4-(NO2)2 with methyl isocyanate, followed by the nitrosation with 99% HCOOH and dry sodium nitrite powder. Surprisingly of these series of analogus, the anilino-nitrosoureas substituted with electron-withdrawing nitro groups (2k-n) showed significantly low ED50 values of 1.4-3.4 micrograms/ml. In addition, none of these compounds substituted with electron-donating groups exhibited cytotoxicities.

Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with left main coronary artery stenosis. Improved survival in a predominantly Oriental population.

Over the last 10 years, there has been a reduction of surgical mortality in coronary bypass grafting for left main coronary artery disease. Most of the available literature reports are of Caucasian populations. We report our experience of the surgical treatment of this disease in a predominantly Oriental population. From 1 January 1987 to 30 June 1991, 86 consecutive patients had coronary artery bypass surgery for left main stenosis. There were 65 men and 21 women with an age range of 34 to 80 years (mean age: 58 years SD +/- 8.63). There were no operative deaths and 1 hospital death (1.2%) from a non-cardiac cause. The perioperative myocardial infarction rate was 3.5% (3/86). These results are better than some earlier series in which hospital mortality was reported as high as 12.6% and the preoperative myocardial infarction rate 11.8%. In this series where the patients are predominantly Oriental, the results are comparable if not better than in series reported in centres where the population is predominantly Caucasian.